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Length: 3:46
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And the chopper descends
They're hidden in the back, with a message on a half-baked tape
With the spool going round, saying I'm back here in this place
And I could cry
And there's smoke you could click on
What are we going to do now?
Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew?
'Cause working for the clampdown
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we're working for the clampdown
We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers
The judge said five to ten but I say double that again
I'm not working for the clampdown
No man born with a living soul
Can be working for the clampdown
Kick over the wall 'cause government's to fall
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
Do you know that you can use it?
The voices in your head are calling
Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming
Only a fool would think someone could save you
The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don't owe nothing, so boy, get running
It's the best years of your life they want to steal
You grow up and you calm down
And you're working for the clampdown
You start wearing the blue and brown
And you're working for the clampdown
So you got someone to boss around
It makes you feel big now
You drift until you brutalize
You made your first kill now
In these days of evil presidentes
Working for the clampdown
But lately one or two has fully paid their due
For working for the clampdown
Ha, get along, get along
Working for the clampdown
Ha, get along, get along
Working for the clampdown
Yeah, I'm working hard in Harrisburg
Working hard in Petersburg
Working for the clampdown
Working for the clampdown
Begging to be melted down
Work, work, work
And I give away no secrets
Work, more work, more work
![banana jam](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/bananajam.gif)
![guitarist](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_guitarist.gif)
I remember Pete Townshend giving us all a heads-up about them back then, and he sure was right! I was at first shocked by their boldness, and I admired how they were unabashedly unique amidst much of the music of the time. And I loved Joe's spastic, contagious, outrageous energy and passion! This and Combat Rock are among the very finest rock and roll records EVER!
They certainly are amongst the finest of which there are many!
You obviously weren't alive or listening to The Clash when they were in their prime... go ahead and google "the clash the only band that matters".
While other 80's bands were pumping out feel good music, The Clash was making socio-economic and political statements that rocked.
I saw them open for The Who in the early 80s at Shea Stadium in NYC... it was kick-a** unreal.
You obviously weren't alive or listening to The Clash when they were in their prime... go ahead and google "the clash the only band that matters".
While other 80's bands were pumping out feel good music, The Clash was making socio-economic and political statements that rocked.
I saw them open for The Who in the early 80s at Shea Stadium in NYC... it was kick-a** unreal.
Help me here. I can understand people saying this about The Beatles, Elvis (both of them), Pink Floyd, Massive Attack. But The Clash? Really, I want to understand.
You obviously weren't alive or listening to The Clash when they were in their prime... go ahead and google "the clash the only band that matters".
While other 80's bands were pumping out feel good music, The Clash was making socio-economic and political statements that rocked.
I saw them open for The Who in the early 80s at Shea Stadium in NYC... it was kick-a** unreal.
Shit people, I'm 60 and pumping my fist in memory of that energy, that rawness, that freedom.
Ow, my rotator cuff.
Keep pumpin' my brother!
![dancing banana](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/dancingbanana.gif)
"Kill your favorite band before they make 'Combat Rock'."
--Jack Black
Jack Black is slowly becoming irrelevant!
![angel](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_angel.gif)
Same here
Yep -- here, here.
Shit people, I'm 60 and pumping my fist in memory of that energy, that rawness, that freedom.
Ow, my rotator cuff.
Same here
The Clash never made a bad album. Cut the Crap was not a Clash album IMO.
"Kill your favorite band before they make 'Combat Rock'."
--Jack Black
Not sure if anyone noticed, release date is little stale...
Dec 31, 1969?
The Unix epoch. 19:00 1969-12-31 to be precise, for eastern time. If the date (expressed as seconds since the epoch) is zero, that's what you get.
Click-click-clickety-click. There!
10
Help me here. I can understand people saying this about The Beatles, Elvis (both of them), Pink Floyd, Massive Attack. But The Clash? Really, I want to understand.
Shit people, I'm 60 and pumping my fist in memory of that energy, that rawness, that freedom.
Ow, my rotator cuff.
islander wrote:
I think I just hurt my neck while bobbing my head.
Stop whining you two. Your fingers still work well enough to turn it up.
Help me here. I can understand people saying this about The Beatles, Elvis (both of them), Pink Floyd, Massive Attack. But The Clash? Really, I want to understand.
"The only band that matters" was their sobriquet during their active years.
Thank you. Yes, this is what my comment below was referencing.
Dec 31, 1969?
Shit people, I'm 60 and pumping my fist in memory of that energy, that rawness, that freedom.
Ow, my rotator cuff.
bro, you're 64 now!!!!
be careful
I think the band is Great, but come on .........! Eh? ...a bit of an overstatement!!!
"The only band that matters" was their sobriquet during their active years.
The only band that matters.
I think the band is Great, but come on .........! Eh? ...a bit of an overstatement!!!
As a child of the 60's who was temporarily radicalized by the video coverage of the 1968 Democratic convention, these thoughts are always just under the surface.
The only band that matters.
Help me here. I can understand people saying this about The Beatles, Elvis (both of them), Pink Floyd, Massive Attack. But The Clash? Really, I want to understand.
What a run - some of my all time favorite tunes:
Old Man
Subterranean Homesick Aien
What Difference Does it Make?
Clampdown....
(and Githead Take Off is a nice follow tune too (reminds me of Wire every time!)
Ah....RP rules!
![banana split](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/bananasplit.gif)
![](https://socialistworker.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/images1412/Image/2009/2152/clampdown.jpg)
Great song.
Saw the Clash in San Francisco in 1982. Amazing show.
Was it possibly with the Who in82
At the Oakland colluesum..if so i concur
I was listening to this in college?!
Well, bite me.
Yeah, but isn't there a fairly long history of the Angry Young Man in British culture? Were the Clash that ground-breaking? I didn't grow up in England so I can't say whether they were at the vanguard of punk or socially conscious music, but I wonder whether they were just at the top of another cycle of youth rebellion in British culture. I bought "London Calling" shortly after it came out and liked some of the songs, but a lot of it felt ragged and and willfully dumb. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of message.
I will say this: England went through far more wrenching social and economic changes in the 70s and 80s than the US did, and as a result the music that the UK created during those times—even the escapist stuff—was generally superior and a lot more interesting than what American bands put out.
I have to agree - as a teenager I never got the Clash at all. There were other bands around at the time who I found to be far more interesting and authentic - the original Buzzcocks and Magazine for example.
![The Clash - Trourser Press Magazine 1980](https://punkygibbon.co.uk/images/c/clash/photo_1980_trouserpress_march_450.jpg)
Ow, my rotator cuff.
I think I just hurt my neck while bobbing my head.
Ow, my rotator cuff.
How did Rod put it?
"MAGGIE!
I wish I'd
Never seen your face!"
(OK, different decade, different Maggie, but still . . .)
No longer "Maggie", but now "MAGA"
'Cause they're working for the clampdown
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we're working for the clampdown
We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers
Make America Great Again
![{#Frustrated} {#Frustrated}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_frustrated.gif)
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
Do you know that you can use it?
Great song.
Saw the Clash in San Francisco in 1982. Amazing show.
![Photograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Margaret_Thatcher.png/220px-Margaret_Thatcher.png)
oh those were the days, hearing this was like grabbing a guiter and giving me a swipe at this cow
How did Rod put it?
"MAGGIE!
I wish I'd
Never seen your face!"
(OK, different decade, different Maggie, but still . . .)
![Photograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Margaret_Thatcher.png/220px-Margaret_Thatcher.png)
oh those were the days, hearing this was like grabbing a guiter and giving me a swipe at this cow
Exactly. Could not agree more. It is common misconception that they were some sloppy wannabes. Listen to some post-Clash output, like Strummer's Mescaleros or Jones's Big Audio Dynamite, and you begin to appreciate that they were musicians first and foremost.
Yes I do 🎣🎣🎣
as a youth in England, in an increasing atmosphere of "no hope-ism" I never really got the Clash, much preferred The Jam. Over the following years not much has changed, apart from learning Strummer was a bit of a phoney and far too much up his own arse. The Clash did some great stuff but much crap and bad reggae too.
steeler wrote:
Hmmmm . . . that is a criticism I would not have expected.
I would say The Clash was heavy on message.
Given, these are songs, not novels or essays.
This great song deserves a better reading. How did Bruce do?
Seriously?! that's really, really cool! (not sarcasm)
(Atlanta)
jmsmy wrote:
Glad to hear his music is improving
That's funny, Borg. I don't agree, but I hear you.
I tried to convert a good, recently deceased friend of mine to Springsteen. To no avail. He was into Pink Floyd, Stevie Ray, Ramstein. He lived in NJ but sneered and changed the channel when Springsteen came on the radio.
Having seen two of the Boss's shows, he's passion personified. One of the hardest working men in show business. The Clash is long gone, leaving a limited catalogue, but Bruce is still here, still recording and touring. That says a lot. Be that as it may, Clash was certainly a brilliant act. I remember hearing this song on a car radio in '79 or '80, and moments later the office mail room dude and I bought an after work dime bag from our guy Herb (yes, that was his name) on a Manhattan midtown corner and missed an aggressive wanted to-bust-us cop by 5 seconds. Whew. Now that's a clampdown.
Glad to hear his music is improving
Yeah, but isn't there a fairly long history of the Angry Young Man in British culture? Were the Clash that ground-breaking? I didn't grow up in England so I can't say whether they were at the vanguard of punk or socially conscious music, but I wonder whether they were just at the top of another cycle of youth rebellion in British culture. I bought "London Calling" shortly after it came out and liked some of the songs, but a lot of it felt ragged and and willfully dumb. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of message.
I will say this: England went through far more wrenching social and economic changes in the 70s and 80s than the US did, and as a result the music that the UK created during those times—even the escapist stuff—was generally superior and a lot more interesting than what American bands put out.
Hmmmm . . . that is a criticism I would not have expected.
I would say The Clash was heavy on message.
Given, these are songs, not novels or essays.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Elvispresleydebutalbum.jpeg)
![](https://rlv.zcache.co.uk/pension_calling_tees-r6cb4e001744d4d74bb311e3b7bdf9549_va6lr_324.jpg)
Long live The Clash!
True Dat !
Long live The Clash!
Amen - it captures that entire time and still in many ways still does, eg NSA and its hands/eyes in everyone's business.
The clampdown exists behind the veil in the corner
![](https://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/Images/car-crash.jpg)
The Crash
hirarious! working for the crampdown!
Well put, I agree wholeheartedly.
![{#Cheers} {#Cheers}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_cheers.gif)
Bollocks!
Ha! get along — get along...
these boys were much needed prophets
petarsubotic wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwzZpXiwm60&t=1m40s
From: Future Is Unwritten, 2007.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwzZpXiwm60&t=1m40s
From: Future Is Unwritten, 2007.
![](https://nerdapproved.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/guitar_mickey_doll.jpg)
Outstanding!!
HA!!! probably right. I remember a time when I thought Micheal Jackson was the shit.
But I have changed. At least an inch shorter and maybe 20 lbs heavier.
Still I like this though.
![Cool Cool](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-cool.gif)
Yeah, but isn't there a fairly long history of the Angry Young Man in British culture? Were the Clash that ground-breaking? I didn't grow up in England so I can't say whether they were at the vanguard of punk or socially conscious music, but I wonder whether they were just at the top of another cycle of youth rebellion in British culture. I bought "London Calling" shortly after it came out and liked some of the songs, but a lot of it felt ragged and and willfully dumb. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of message.
Well put, I agree wholeheartedly.
![{#Cheers} {#Cheers}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_cheers.gif)
gemtag wrote:
Thanks fred, you actually did a very good job of addressing my point without getting nasty. I agree with your assessment.
![{#Cheers} {#Cheers}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_cheers.gif)
Miracles do happen. (OK, OK, I'll stop it. Could not resist)
As Lester Bangs called them at the time "The only band that matters"
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/Lester_Bangs.jpg)
Somewhere, Les is smiling (more than he ever did while he was still with us) knowing his comment on The Clash seems to be holding up quite nicely almost 35 years after he penned it...
That's because The Sex Pistols were just a bunch of posers. The Clash was a real band and made great music. The Sex Pistols were a contrived stage act, and their music sucked.
All rock bands are posers. The Sex Pistols were essentially, a contrivance of Malcolm McLaren, but they had quite a few good tunes. I agree, they were not as good as The Clash, but they opened a lot of doors for bands which followed.
Love it! You are so erudite in your comments, great to hear your "id" express itself!
![{#Roflol} {#Roflol}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_roflol.gif)
That's because The Sex Pistols were just a bunch of posers. The Clash was a real band and made great music. The Sex Pistols were a contrived stage act, and their music sucked.
Yeah, but isn't there a fairly long history of the Angry Young Man in British culture? Were the Clash that ground-breaking? I didn't grow up in England so I can't say whether they were at the vanguard of punk or socially conscious music, but I wonder whether they were just at the top of another cycle of youth rebellion in British culture. I bought "London Calling" shortly after it came out and liked some of the songs, but a lot of it felt ragged and and willfully dumb. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of message.
I will say this: England went through far more wrenching social and economic changes in the 70s and 80s than the US did, and as a result the music that the UK created during those times—even the escapist stuff—was generally superior and a lot more interesting than what American bands put out.
Fred gave you the history.
As Lester Bangs called them at the time "The only band that matters"
Can you recommend any spam removal companies?